Recording apparatus for dispensing drinks



(No Model.) A heats-sheet 1.

v W. M. FOWLER. RECORDING APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING DRINKS.

No. 463,304. Patented Nov. 17,1891.

(No Model) W. M. FOWLER. 3 Sheets- Sheet 2.

I RECORDING APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING DRINKS. No. 463,304. PatentedN0v..17, 1891.

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(No Model.) 'asheens-sneet 3.

W. M. FOWLER; RECORDING APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING DRINKS. No. 463,304.

Patented Nov. 17, 1891.

Mani.

Wmesses.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM M. FOlVLER, OF MILFORD, CONNECTICUT.

RECORDING APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING DRINKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 463,304, dated November17. 1891.

7 Application filed December 29, 1890. Serial No. 376,093. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM M. FOWLER, of Milford, in the county of NewHaven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Apparatus for Dispensing Drinks, of which the followingis a specification.

Myinvention relates to an iinproveinentin apparatus for dispensingdrinks, and more particularly to an apparatus of this character whichmaybe readily transported from place to place and which is adapted toreceive as its supply-reservoir any one of the bottles of ordinary sizeand shape, such as are commonly employed in storing beverages.

The object is to provide means for securing the supply-reservoir inposition to have its contents dispensed in predetermined quantities anda double record thereof made, while at the same time the dispensing andrecording mechanism remains guarded against tampering therewith and thesupply-reservoir itself locked in position.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents the apparatus inside elevation with parts assembled as in use, the box in which theoperating-lever swings being represented in section to show the leverand certain parts operate thereby. 2 is a vertical section taken throughline 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. is a vertical section taken through line 3 3 ofFig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken through line 4.- 4 of Fig.Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken through line 5 5 of Fig.

A represents a base which is conveniently supported upon legs a. Uponthe base A there is secured a casing conveniently of oblong rectangularform, as herein shown, the sides 13 13, the top I), and the bottom I) ofwhich are fixed, while the front b is hinged at one edge in anywell-known or approved manner to the side, so as to admit of its beingswung open, and is provided with a lock U for looking it in closedadjustment to prevent access to the interior of the casing except by theperson holdingthe key. The rear 5 is arranged to slide laterally out ofits position to gain accessto the mechanism within the casing at therear.

Bearings for the top and bottom of the rear sliding portion h of thecasing are conveniently formed bylips b and Z), formed along the edgesof the top and bottom of the casing, and the said sliding portionislocked against displacement by means of asliding bolt 12 which extendsfrom front to rear across the interior of the casin g near itsbottom,its reduced'end b entering a socket formed for the purpose in thesliding part b The bolt b extends flush with the interior-face of thedoor b when the latter is in closed adjustment, so that it is impossibleto draw the bolt and slide the rear part b of the casing unless the doorshall have been first unlocked and swung open. By this means theopenings to both front and rear aremade to depend upon the holding ofthe key to the lock h The measuring-receptacle C, which determines theamount of the liquid which shall be dispensed at one time, is fixed tothe side of the casing, and is here shown as of c-ylin' drical form.Upon its upper side it is provided with a neck or boss 0, longitudinallythrough which is formed a series of openings 0, c and c and transverselythrough which across the paths of the said openings there is formed anopening for the reception of a rotary valve D. The valve D isprovidedwith a series of openings (Z, d, and d corre sponding, respectively, tothe openings c, 0 and c in the neck or boss 0, which when when turned toregister with the openings in the neck or boss form continuous openingsfrom the upper endof theboss or neck through to the interior of themeasuring-receptacle C, but which when the valveis turned to the rightor left out oit communication with the interior of themeastiring-receptacle through the perforations c and 0 The said valveDis, however, provided with an annular groove (Z located in the plane ofthe perforation d therethrough, by which communication is at all timesestablished with the interior of the receptacle C through theperforation c From the lower ends of the perforations c and 0' tubes aand depend within the receptacle C to a point near the bottom of saidreceptacle, and a tube 0 projects upwardly from the top of the neck orboss 0, forminga continuation of the perforation c in said boss or neckto a point above that at which the surface of the liquid in thesupply-reservoir is intended to stand. A tubular connection E isprovided at its lower end with an internally-threaded socket e, intendedto screw over the upper portion of the boss or neck 0, while the upperend of said tubular connection E projects upwardly through an opening inthe top of the casing and forms, as shown at e, a seat for the receptionof the nozzle of a bottle F. The upwardly-projected portion 6 of theconnecting-tube E is surrounded by suitable elastic packing e to form aliquidtight joint between the said tube and the bottle. When the bottleis placed with its nozzle over the projecting end of theconnecting-tube, the small tube 0? is intended to eX- tend, as indicatedin dotted lines in Fig. 1, nearly to the inner surface of the bottom ofthe bottle.

The bottle is locked in its inverted position upon theconnecting-tube'by means of a vertically-adjustable rod G, provided atits upper end with an overhanging arm 9, adapted to seat within thedepression in the bottom of the bottle, as shown in Fig. 1. The lowerportion of the rod G extends downwardly through the casing and isprovided along its front side within the casing with a series ofratchet-teeth g, with which a spring-actuated dog g pivotally secured tothe inner face of the door b engages, and While permitting the freedepression of the rod G locks it against upward movement, save only whenthe door 19 is swung open. The rod G is conveniently provided with agroove 9 along its side, in which a feather in the bottom of the casingis arranged to slide to hold the rod in the proper relation with respectto the locking-pawl, and it is also conveniently provided with a handleg for convenience in adjusting it.

A tubular neck or boss 0 projects from the bottom of the receptacle 0and connects through the base A and the bottom of the casingwith adischarge-spout H. In the present instance I have shown an L-coupling h,which may be first screwed onto the projecting end of the boss or neck 0and the spout H may then be screwed into the other branch of thecoupling.

Transversely through the boss or neck 0 a valve D extends, the samebeing provided with an opening d therethrough, which,when

I the valve is turned to bring the opening to register with the interiorof the tubular boss 0 forms a free discharge from the bottom of thereceptacle through the discharge-spout, but when the valve is turned tothe right or left forms a cut-off, closing the said discharge.

The valves D and D are held in their seats by nuts d screwed onto theirprojecting ends, as shown, and bearing against suitable Washers d,interposed between the nuts and the sides of the necks c and 0 On theiropposite ends the said Valves d and d are provided with gear-wheels Iand I, either formed integral with the valves or fixed thereto. Anintermediate gear-wheel K is fixed to a rocking sleeve or hollow shaftis, mounted upon a stud 7c, fixed to and projecting outwardly from theend of the receptacle 0. The position of the gear-wheel K is such as tointermesh with the wheels I and I on the valves D and D, so that whenthe gear-wheel K is rotated the said valves will be simultaneouslyrocked in their seats to open one and close the other. The sleeveprojects outwardly through the side of the casing and has fixed to itsouter end an operating-lever L.

Loosely mounted upon the sleeve 70 is a typecarrying roller M, (seeFigs. 2, 3, and 4,) over which two strips m of material to be printedlead, side by side, from a supply-roll m, suitably mounted in the lowerportion of the casing. There are two series of type around the peripheryof the type-roller M, corresponding to the two strips of material to beprinted, and the type are located at such a distance apart that eachstroke of the operating-lever L will move the type-wheel M sufficientlyto bring the next succeeding type into position to impress the paper bythe pressure of the roller N. The roller N is journaled at one end as amatter of convenience and for compactness in the end of the valve D andat its opposite end in the side of the casing. The type-carrying rollerM is caused to advance during one stroke of the lever (in the pres-entinstance the forward or downward stroke) by means of a spring-actuatedpawl k carried by the hub of the spurwheel K and adapted to engage aninternal series of ratchet-teeth k in the end of the roller. (See Fig.2.)

The roller M is prevented from moving in the opposite direction duringthe return stroke of the operating-lever by means of a spring-actuatedstop-pawl k pivotally secured to the side of the casing and adapted toengage an internal series of ratchet-teeth k in the opposite end of theroller M.

By the above construction and arrangement I am enabled to utilize thetype-carrying roller in conjunction with the pressure-roller N for thepurpose of feeding the strips forward as well as for impressingthenumber desired. As the impressed or printed strips of material are fedforward from the type-roller they are guided between the stationary andmovable jaws O and o of a cutter. The movable jaw o of the cutter isheld normally out of engagement with the stationary jaw by means of aspring 0, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and is forced toward thestationary jaw O to-sever the printed slips by the engagement therewithof the operating-lever L. To accomplish this, the free end of the jaw 0projects through an elongated slot in the side of the casing, as shownat 0 ,Fig.1,so that when the operating-lever L is swung on its returnstroke a pawl Z, carried by said lever, will engage the end 0 and forcethe movable jaw toward the stationary jaw. When the lever swings in theopposite direction, the pawl Z, being free to swing in one direction,will pass the projecting end of the movable jaw without impeding themovement of the lever. The lever L is limited in its stroke in eachdirection by means of suitable stops Z, projecting from the side of thecasing, and the entire lever, with the exception of its operating-handleZ is normally concealed within a cap-piece P, fixed to the end of therocking sleeve 7t", so as to rock with the sleeve and lever.

The operation is as follows: The bottle or other suitable reservoir fromwhich the liquid is to be dispensed is seated mouth downward upon theprojecting end of the tube E and is locked in place by, the bar G andthe pawl g engaged therewith. The series of ratchetteeth on the bar Gwith which the pawl g engages is intended to be sufficiently long toadmit of any reasonable variation in the heights of the bottles employedas supplyreservoirs. It now the operatinglever L be given its forward ordownward stroke, it will through the rocking sleeve or shaft andgear-wheel K, rock the valves D and D into position to open valve D, andhence com munication between the supply-reservoir or bottle and theinterior of the measuring-receptacle O, and close valve D, and hencecommunica tion between said receptacle and the discharge-spout. Thiswill allow the measuring receptacle 0 to fill with liquid from thesupply-reservoir, the air within the receptacle 0 escaping up throughthe tube 0 above the liquid in the supply-reservoir as fast as it isdisplaced by the entrance of the liquid into the receptacle'O. This samestroke of the operating-lever L also rotates the type-carrying and feedrollers by the engagement of the pawl 70 with the type-carrying rollerand the pressure of the roller N upon the material being fed, andthereby feeds the printed strips of material through between the jaws ofthe cutter in position to be severed. The return stroke of the lever Lsimultaneously rocks both of the valves D and D, cutting offcommunication between the supply-reservoir and the interior of thereceptacle 0, and at the same time opening communication between saidreceptacle'and the discharge-spout. The liquid within the receptacle 0is now free to pass out through the dischargespout H into a glass Q orother suitable receiving-vessel.

Air is supplied to the receptacle 0 while the liquid is being drawntherefrom through a'port g, which is closed by the valve D when thelatter is turned into position to open communication between thesupply-reservoir and the receptacle 0, but communicates with the outsideair through a recess q in the valve when the latter is turned intoposition to close communication between the supply-reservoir and thereceptacle 0. The tubes 0 and 05 depending within the receptacle 0extend the column of liquid from within the supplyreservoir to such adistance below the top of the receptacle O that, should any considerableamount of liquid accumulate in the air-tube e in filling the receptacle0 it will be forced out by the weight of the descending columns ofliquid into the receptacle 0 when the valve D opens communication.

The return stroke of the operating-lever also operates the movable jawof the cutter and severs the duplicate tickets from the strips. One ofthese tickets falls freely into the bottom of the inclosed casing, andaccess thereto can be obtained only by a person holding the key to alock 19 The other of the duplicate tickets passes down a chute R, (seeFigs. 3 and 4,) through openings in the bottom of the casing and in thebase A, into a drawer or other suitable receptacle S.

It is intended that access to the receptacle S shall be had by somepersonthe bartender, for exampleother than the person holding the keyfor gaining access to the interior of the casin g, and that access tothe receptacle S may be had by the key to a lock 3. In the presentinstance the receptacle 0 is shown as a drawer which slides in suitableguides beneath the base A and is locked in position by the hasp of apadlock extended through a perforation or perforations in the base A infront of the drawer. By the above arrangement the apparatus may be setupon the table where one or more customers are seated and they may drawfrom it as often as they see fit. For every drinkthat has been dispensedthere has been made a double rec 0rd, one set of the tickets beingretained within the casing and the other set within the drawer S. Vhensettlement is required, the person in charge may open the drawer S,count the number of tickets, make out the bill, and lay the ticketsaside. The drawer S being replaced, the apparatus may be set beforeanother customer or set of customers, and so on throughout the day oruntil the liquid within the bottle has, been wholly dispensed.

' The proprietor or person appointed by him to replenish the supplyreservoirs or bottles, upon opening the casing, will find there acomplete record of the number of drinks dlispensed from the emptiedreservoir whollyindependent of the several records which may have beenremoved from the' drawer S.

Vhat I claim as my invention is 1. The combination, with a stationarymeasuring-receptacle, a supply-reservoir in communication therewith, andmeans for cutting off communication between the liquidsupply and theinterior of the receptacle, of a recording mechanism under the controlof the means for cutting off the said supply; substantially as setforth.

2. The combination, with the-stationary measuring-receptacle and aconnection for the attachment of a removable supply-reservoir thereto incommunication with the interior of the measuring-receptacle under theforce of gravity, of means for locking the removable supply-reservoir inposition, means for regulating the flow of liquid from thesupplyreservoir to the measuring-receptacle, and

means for regulating the discharge of the liquid from themeasuring-receptacle, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the seat or projection for the reception of thenozzle of the supply-reservoir, a measuring-receptacle, and a casingsurrounding the measuring-receptacle, of a locking bar or rod adapted atits upper end to engage the bottom of the supply-reservoir and extendingat its lower end within the casing, and a locking device in engagementwith the bar within the casing to prevent its removal therefrom,substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a suitable casing, a measuring-receptacle fixedwithin the easing, and a connection extending from the receptaclethrough the casing and adapted to receive the mouth of asupplyreservoir, of a locking bar or rod provided at its upper end withan overhanging arm adapted to engage the bottom of a supply-reservoirand extended within the casing, the said bar being provided with aseries of ratchet-teeth within the easing, a pawl adapted to engage saidratchet and prevent the movement of the bar or rod away from theposition to hold the reservoir and at the same time permitting its freemovement in the opposite direction, and means for swinging the pawl outof engagement with the bar or rod, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a suitable casing provided with a door andmeans for locking the door closed, of a measuring-receptacle fixedwithin the casing and provided with a connection extending through thecasing to receive the mouth of a supply reservoir, a locking bar or rodadapted at its upper end to engage the bottom of the reservoir andprovided at its lower end within the casing with a series ofratchet-teeth, and a pawl pivotally secured to the said door andadapted, when the door is closed, to engage the ratchet-teeth and lockthe said bar against removal from the casing, substantially as setforth.

6! The combination, with the fixed portions of the casing, of a door atone side of the casing provided with a lock for securing it in closedadjustment, a sliding section of the casing located opposite the door,and a sliding bolt extending from the door across within the easing intoengagement with the said sliding section, the arrangement of the boltbeing such that when the door is locked the said bolt will be secured inengagement with the sliding section, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with a suitable casing and a measuring-receptaclefixed therein and provided with a connection at its upper portionextending through thecasing into position to communicate with thesupply-reservoir and with a connection at its lower portion extendingthrough the casing to connect with a discharge-spout, of a pair ofvalves, one located in each of said connections, an operating-lever, aconnection between the operating-lever and the two valves forsimultaneously operating them, and a recording mechanism under thecontrol of the said lever to be operated simultaneously with theoperating valves,substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with the casing and the measuring-receptacle fixedtherein and provided with suitable connections for receiving its supplyfrom the supply-reservoir and for discharging its contents, of a pair ofrotary valves, one adapted to control the admission of the liquid intothe receptacle and the other to control the discharge of the liquid fromthe receptacle, operating wheels fixed to the valves, and a rockingwheel in engagement with the two valve-operating wheels forsimultaneously rotating them, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with the casin g, ameasu ring-receptacle fixedtherein, and its connections through the casing for establishingcommunication between it and the supply-reservoir and discharge-spout,of a pair of rotary valves, one for controlling the entrance of theliquid into the measuring-receptacle and the other for controlling thedischarge of the liquid from the receptacle, gear-wheels on the valves,a gear-wheel in position to intermesh with the gear-wheels on thevalves, and a lever for operating the said last-named gearwheel, andthereby simultaneously operating the valves, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination, with the casing, the measuring-receptacle fixedtherein, and its connections with the supply and discharge, of thevalves for regulating the supply and discharge, an operatingdever, arocking shaft to which the operating-lever is fixed, means forconnecting the said rocking shaft with the valves for simultaneouslyoperating them, a pair of feed-rollers, one carried by said rockin gshaft and the other by a frictional contact therewith, one of saidrollers being provided with series of type, and means for supplying thematerial to be printed between the two rollers, substantially as setforth.

11. The combination, with the dispensing mechanism, the operating-lever,and the rock shaft for connecting the operatingdever with the dispensingmechanism, of a type-carrying roller loosely mounted upon saidrock-shaft and provided wit-h series of ratchet-teeth, pawls adaptedto'engage said ratchet-teeth, one of the pawls being carried by therockshaft and serving to advance the roller and the other being pivotedto the casing and serving as a stop, and means for supplying thematerial to be printed to the face of the type-roller, .wherebytheoperating of the dispensing mechanism feeds and prints the strips,substantially as set forth.

12. The combination, with the dispensing mechanism and the rock-shaftand operatinglever for operating the said mechanism, of a type-carryingroller loosely mounted on said rock-shaft and provided with a series ofratchet-teeth,. a pawl carried by said rock-shaft in position to engagethe ratchet-teeth on the roller to advance it, means for preventing theretrograde movement of the roller when the rock-shaft is rocked in theopposite direction, and means for presenting the materialto be printedto theface of the type-roller, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination, with the dispensing mechanism and the means foroperating it, of a double recording mechanism under the control of themeans for operating the dispensing mechanism, a receptacle provided witha lock adapted to receive one of said records, and another receptacleprovided with a lock adapted to receive the other of said records,substantially as set forth.

14. The combination, with the dispensing mechanism and the reciprocatingoperatinglever for controlling the said mechanism, of a recordingmechanism under the control of said lever during its stroke in onedirection and a cutter under the control of said 0perating-lever duringits stroke in the opposite direction, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination, with the casing and the dispensing and recordingmechanisms located therein, of the operating-lever located upon theoutside of the casing and the cap inclosing the body of theoperating-lever and secured to rock together with the lever,substantially as set forth.

16. The combination, with the measuringreceptacle, its supply-reservoir,and means for controlling the entrance of the liquid from thesupply-reservoir to the receptacle and its discharge therefrom, of anair-tube extending from said receptacle into position at or above thesurface of the liquid in the supply-reservoir and a liquid-conduitextending from the top of said receptacle downwardly therein and formingan extension of the communication between the interior of the reservoirand the receptacle, substantially as set forth.

WILLIAM M. FOWLER.

\Vitnesses;

FREDK. HAYNES, D. H. HAYWOOD.

